Police exchange fire with Maoists in Angul

Odisha Channel Bureau Angul, June 30: An exchange of fire took place between police and Maoists in the early hours of Sunday in the hilly areas under Chhendipada police station in Odisha’s Angul district.No one was hurt from police side but there was no confirmation whether anyone from the Maoists side was injured or dead.Reports said there were blood stains on the spot fuelling speculations of injury or death in the Maoists group.With this incident, the tall claims by the Odisha police that they had successfully stalled the progress of Maoists into new districts have proved hollow.According to Inspector General of North Central Range P.S.Ranpise, the special operation group jawans were carrying out combing operations in the forest areas bordering Angul and Sambalpur districts following intelligence reports of Maoist movement.At about 4 am they confronted some Maoist cadres at a hilly place under Chhendipada police station limits.“Finding police at the doorsteps the extremists opened fire which was returned by jawans.The exchange of fire lasted about one hour before the Maoists melted into deep forests.Details of about their number and injury are awaited.Combing operation will be more vigorous in coming days in these areas,” he added.It may be noted that there were reports of Maoist movements in the villages under Thakurgarh and Purunakote areas of Satkosia jungle last week.Villagers had informed police that about 18 men and women came to their villages and took foods besides holding meetings.Police initially downplayed the report but later launched combing operation in these areas but found nothing amid reports that they went to Boudh areas.They last night started combing at Chhendipada-Nakhchi-Handappa police station areas bordering undivided Sambalpur district and traced the armed men.